Alternative Sources of Energy

What is Distributed Generation?
Small-scale power generation technologies located close to where electricity is used to provide an alternative to or an enhancement of the traditional electric power system.
Difference from emergency generators?

Why the Interest?
Blackouts
Ice Storm
Electricity shortages and prices
RELIABILITY and SECURITY

Economics?
Depends on the relative price of fuel in to electricity out (spark gap)
Electricity may be a variable price
Depends on the proponent (fuel cells in Berlin)

Is DG GREEN?
Not necessarily!
Renewable DG is certainly
Fossil-fueled DG may be if heat is utilized year round.
Depends on source of grid electricity.

Multiple Sites Responding
Response to price, shortage, etc
Communication by internet or electrical
Use of existing stand by generators

2301 Midland Avenue, Scarborough has the first Canadian installation of a micro-turbine supplying electricity and waste heat to a building. The gas-fired unit was intended to operate continuously, providing 75 kW electric and 155 kW thermal heat. Natural gas consumption by the building’s boilers has been reduced by the application of recovered heat to space heating systems in winter and humidity control systems in summer.
Project Description
75 kW Microturbine CHP Application

2301 Midland Avenue, Scarborough
Project Description

2301 Midland Avenue, Scarborough
Site Description

Site Description
Enclosure
Concrete Pad
Fuel
Transformer
Heat Rec. Unit
Turbine
H2O
Gas Meter
Sloped lines on water loop

Reasons for doing the project
Source: PWGSC study
All values in Canadian Funds

April 12, 2000 – Equipment Delivery (originally planned for September 30, 1999)
June 9, 2000 – Commissioned (originally planned for October 30, 1999)
November 7, 2000 – Unit shut down pending ETS Field Certification
June 9, 2000 - November 7, 2000 – Availability: 60%
Gas compressor and core replaced after 2000 hours of operation
January, 2001 – Monitoring Underway (originally planned for November 30, 1999)
January 4 – Emissions Testing
January 26 – A minor gas leak was detected by Enbridge and repaired by Honeywell.
February 5 – Versatech (mechanical contractor) replaced the bottom flange of gas meter and installed a flexible connector to the cogeneration unit.
February 6 – Vestar restarted the co-gen unit at 10:30 a.m. Logging was restarted at 12:00 noon (after 2614 hours of operation).
February 8 – Turbine stopped at 2 p.m.
Project chronology: 2000 - 2001

Source: EPA Environmental Technology Verification Report
Schematic of Typical Measurement System

271
84
GAS
HEAT
37
POWER
191 °C
LOSSES
STACK
LOSSES
to ambient
temperature
Heat Balance 4th January
0°C Ambient ( all data in kW)
75
70

Emission Testing January 4th

Site Description
Building Host:
Health Canada Laboratory Building
@ 2301 Midland Avenue
3-story building
approximate altitude of 600 ft.
The building has also recently undergone a FBI (Federal Buildings Initiative) project that reduces its energy consumption by 50% through more efficient lighting, controls and a conversion of the constant volume ventilation to a variable volume system. (Retrofit done by Vestar, an energy services company supplying third party financing.)

Reasons for doing the project
Benefits of CHP (Combined
Heat and Power) microturbines:
- Reduction of greenhouse gas production
- Potential energy cost savings
- Versatility and stand-alone capability
- Possibility of selling power back to grid
75 kW Microturbine CHP Application

Site Description
Enclosure
Concrete Pad
Fuel
Transformer
Heat Rec. Unit
Turbine
H2O
Gas Meter
Sloped lines on water loop

271
84
GAS
HEAT
37
POWER
191 °C
LOSSES
STACK
LOSSES
to ambient
temperature
Heat Balance 4th January
0°C Ambient ( all data in kW)
75
70